Zhao Guihua had to tell her mother about such a big matter.
Jin Huaihua was an old servant of the Yun family. If she was found to be secretly meeting with an outsider, how would the family's reputation hold up if word got out?
Alas, if she really wanted to get married, she should have told her mother earlier. Why be so secretive about it...
Inside the room, Gu Shi was wiping down the cabinets with Jin Xiaolou.
After a year, the large wardrobe was covered in dust. Jin Xiaolou stood on a stool, using a feather duster to sweep away the dust. In an instant, the room was filled with dust, making both of them cough...
"Xiaolou, come down and rest for a while. If you don't open the window to let out the dust, cough, cough..." Gu Shi said, covering her mouth.
Jin Xiaolou chuckled, "Auntie, it'll be done soon. I'll sweep the dust off the beams too!~"
He had been helping the family with chores since he finished delivering milk in the morning, and he never slacked off. That's why Gu Shi liked him very much...
"No, no, let's just sweep it during the New Year. Come, hurry down!~" Gu Shi held the stool and helped Jin Xiaolou down.
Just then, the door curtain was suddenly pushed open, and Zhao Guihua rushed in, "Oh my, Mother, what are you doing? I'm choking, cough, cough!~"
Gu Shi: "..."
Just now, Du Tieshan had come to complain that Guihua's elder sister-in-law had been giving Miss Murong a hard time, retorting sharply with every word, as if they had a deep-seated hatred.
Gu Shi hadn't said anything when she heard it, but she kept it in mind...
"Mother, come out and see, our Huaihua is meeting a man in secret! Oh, I'm going to have sore eyes tonight!~" Zhao Guihua exaggerated.
Gu Shi frowned upon hearing this, "Eldest daughter-in-law, you don't even knock on the door when you enter the room now?"
Zhao Guihua: "???"
She had never knocked on the door when she came and went before...
"Mother, just come out and see first, Huaihua she..."
"Shut up!~" Gu Shi said with a dark expression, "Eldest daughter-in-law, it's a good thing that Young Master Xiao has feelings for Huaihua. Why are you interfering? They are willing, and no one is forcing anyone. Yet you say Huaihua is meeting a man in secret. It's one thing if I hear it, but if outsiders find out, how will they view our old Yun family? Don't you care about our reputation anymore?"
Zhao Guihua: "..."
So why are you so angry?
It's not like I'm messing around with Young Master Xiao, is it wrong to tell you?
Jin Xiaolou secretly glared at Zhao Guihua, pushed open the window, and poured Gu Shi a glass of water, "Auntie, have some water and calm down..."
Gu Shi rubbed Jin Xiaolou's head and looked at Zhao Guihua, "It's best if you mind your own business. Huaihua is indeed a servant of our family, but she's already of marriageable age. If Young Master Xiao truly treats her well and doesn't mind Huaihua's background, what more could we ask for?"
"Mother..."
Zhao Guihua looked helpless and very depressed, "We all know what kind of person Young Master Xiao is, right? He's determined to oppose Young Master Xiao, so we can't tolerate him. Moreover, my father also said that Young Master Xiao is ill-intentioned, always sneaky and mysterious. He's been living in our house for so long, it's obvious he has ulterior motives. If Huaihua is married to him, can you rest assured?"
Gu Shi: "..."
What kind of person is Young Master Xiao has nothing to do with you?
Did he assassinate you or kidnap you?
"Eldest daughter-in-law!~" Gu Shi narrowed her eyes and stepped forward, "Since Young Master Xiao came to our house, has he done anything wicked, heinous, or unforgivable? Has he harmed any of us in the family? Has he harmed the common people, oppressed the loyal, been rude and abusive, or used foul language towards others?"
The barrage of questions left Zhao Guihua stunned...
Young Master Xiao really hadn't done any of those things.
"No, no!~" Zhao Guihua mumbled.
"Then why do you say Young Master Xiao is ill-intentioned and a wicked person?" Gu Shi retorted sharply.
In fact, when Xiao Jinfeng first arrived at the old Yun family, the family members were wary of him, and no one even wanted to talk to him...
However, after observing him for a while, Gu Shi found that Xiao Jinfeng was not as bad as everyone imagined. At least he was kind-hearted and humane, and even if he fell in love with someone, it was from the heart.
As for the matter between Xiao Jinfeng and Jin Huaihua, Gu Shi had long noticed it. She hadn't interfered because she truly believed in Xiao Jinfeng's character...
Zhao Guihua was so rebuked that her face turned red, and she stammered for a long time without being able to speak.
Seeing this, Gu Shi sighed, "Guihua, there's a saying: 'It's better to tear down ten temples than to break up a marriage.' Since ancient times, people have advised reconciliation rather than separation. If Huaihua and Young Master Xiao can truly be together, we should bless them. Why speculate maliciously about them, right?"
Zhao Guihua twitched her lips, "...Right."
"Also, Miss Murong just arrived at our house. Why do you always target her, retort at her, and look down on her?" Gu Shi softened her tone and patted Zhao Guihua's shoulder, "Jin He has been at the academy for so long, not only has he not lost weight, but he has even gained some. Whose credit is that?"
"Miss Murong is willing to be Jin He's study companion, doing his laundry, cooking, and housework, and she doesn't ask for a single penny in return. Which daughter would be willing to be a servant for someone else? What more are you not satisfied with?"
When Jin Xiaolou heard this, he also smiled and advised Zhao Guihua, "Yes, Sister-in-law Guihua, I heard Brother Jin He say that Sister Murong knows astronomy and geography, understands ancient and modern knowledge, and knows everything. There are very few such talented people in the entire country, so Brother Jin He has found a treasure..."
Zhao Guihua felt even more depressed upon hearing this and retorted, "Mother, although Miss Murong is very outstanding, her background is too humble. My son Jin He will be a high-ranking official in the capital in the future and live in a big house. How can he casually marry a village girl from the countryside? If they get together, outsiders will think our family is desperate for daughters-in-law, pulling in any woman!"
Gu Shi: "..."
As expected, her knowledge is as short as her hair, a woman's benevolence.
Can't you see that Murong Qing is like your sweet baby, by no means an ordinary person?
"Eldest daughter-in-law!" Gu Shi's face darkened again, "To put it bluntly, it's not certain whether Jin He will be an official in the capital in the future. Don't speak too confidently now. Moreover, you don't know Miss Murong well, so you cannot give her a hard time during her stay with us, do you understand?"
Zhao Guihua: "..."